Dr. David Systrom | Exercise Physiology | Outstanding Scientist Award
Dr. David Systrom, Mass. General Brigham/Harvard Medical School, United States
Dr. David Murray Systrom is a renowned physician-scientist specializing in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, currently serving at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston. Born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, he has significantly contributed to exercise physiology, particularly in the diagnostic and therapeutic evaluation of unexplained exertional intolerance and cardiopulmonary disease. A graduate of Colby College and Dartmouth Medical School, he completed his fellowship training at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. Over the decades, Dr. Systrom has combined academic excellence with clinical innovation, advancing novel cardiopulmonary testing methodologies. His extensive collaboration with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute also enhances his interdisciplinary footprint in medical research. He is widely recognized for bridging the gap between basic physiological mechanisms and clinical interventions. With an ORCID ID of 0000-0002-9610-6330, Dr. Systrom’s work continues to inspire a new generation of clinical researchers in exercise physiology and pulmonary medicine.
Profile
🎓 Education
David Murray Systrom holds a BA in Biology (magna cum laude) from Colby College, Waterville, Maine (1972–1976), laying the foundation for a career focused on human physiology and biomedical science. He earned his MD from Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH (1976–1979), where he began integrating clinical medicine with research-based inquiry. His postdoctoral training includes an internship and residency at Emory University, Atlanta (1979–1982), shaping his expertise in internal medicine. He further specialized through clinical and research fellowships at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School (1983–1987), focusing on pulmonary, critical care, and exercise physiology. This unique combination of liberal arts excellence, medical training, and academic mentorship empowered him to pioneer methods in cardiopulmonary stress testing, especially in patients with unexplained exertional symptoms. His academic roots reflect a consistent trajectory toward physiological exploration, particularly within the integrative functions of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
🧪 Experience
Dr. Systrom’s distinguished experience spans over four decades in academic medicine, research, and patient care. He began his faculty journey at Harvard Medical School in 1986, ascending from Instructor to Assistant Professor in Medicine. His early appointments in the Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) shaped his expertise in respiratory diagnostics and critical care management. From 1998 to 2011, he served as Associate Physician at MGH, transitioning to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where he currently advances innovative testing for dyspnea and fatigue syndromes. Additionally, he holds a consulting staff role in Medical Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute since 2013, reflecting his multi-specialty approach. Dr. Systrom’s clinical practice is enriched by his research in invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing (iCPET), bridging bench discoveries with patient-centered solutions. His enduring presence in academic and clinical institutions highlights his role as a leader in translational medicine and integrative physiology.
🏅 Awards and Honors
While formal award listings are not detailed in the source, Dr. David Systrom’s enduring appointments at Harvard-affiliated hospitals and his role as Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School reflect peer recognition of his academic excellence and clinical acumen. His long-term affiliations with Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute position him among elite practitioners in exercise physiology and critical care. He has consistently been entrusted with clinical and research leadership roles, attesting to his integrity, innovation, and impact. His numerous publications, invited lectureships, and cross-disciplinary contributions are marks of a well-honored career, influencing cardiopulmonary diagnostics and the care of complex respiratory patients. His pivotal role in advancing invasive cardiopulmonary stress testing has gained national and international attention, further solidifying his legacy in physiological medicine. The respect from colleagues and institutions alike highlights the quiet prestige of his lifelong dedication to excellence in medicine and science.
🔬 Research Focus
Dr. David Systrom’s research focus lies at the intersection of exercise physiology, pulmonary medicine, and cardiovascular diagnostics. He is internationally recognized for pioneering work in invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing (iCPET), which identifies subtle causes of exertional intolerance, such as pulmonary vascular dysfunction, chronotropic incompetence, and microcirculatory impairments. His translational approach links physiological mechanisms with personalized clinical interventions, particularly for patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and unexplained dyspnea. Dr. Systrom’s collaborations with oncology, cardiology, and immunology units further extend his research into multisystem responses to physical exertion. His work has reshaped how clinicians evaluate complex fatigue syndromes, supporting a paradigm shift from purely subjective assessment to quantifiable, evidence-based diagnostics. His research commitment is underpinned by a mission to enhance functional recovery and quality of life for patients with challenging physiological presentations.
🧬 Research Skills On Exercise Physiology
Dr. Systrom possesses advanced research skills in invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing (iCPET), respiratory physiology, vascular biology, and clinical trial design. He has mastered the use of hemodynamic monitoring tools, right heart catheterization under stress, and gas exchange analysis to unravel subclinical cardiopulmonary pathologies. His ability to integrate clinical insight with laboratory precision enables him to identify subtle impairments affecting exercise performance. He is adept in multidisciplinary collaboration, synthesizing knowledge across pulmonology, neurology, cardiology, and oncology to drive innovative research. Dr. Systrom also brings proficiency in data interpretation, quantitative analysis, and manuscript preparation, evidenced by numerous peer-reviewed publications. His teaching and mentorship skills help cultivate the next generation of exercise physiology researchers, while his cross-functional communication skills enable collaboration at leading institutions. His capacity to translate complex physiology into practical diagnostics marks him as a thought leader in translational pulmonary science.
Noted Publications
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Development of a definition of postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: T Thaweethai, SE Jolley, EW Karlson, EB Levitan, B Levy, GA McComsey, …
Journal: JAMA, Volume 329, Issue 22, Pages 1934-1946
Year: 2023 -
Skeletal muscle dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: American Thoracic Society
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Volume 159, Pages S1-S40
Year: 1999 -
Sildenafil improves exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with systolic heart failure and secondary pulmonary hypertension
Authors: GD Lewis, R Shah, K Shahzad, JM Camuso, PP Pappagianopoulos, …
Journal: Circulation, Volume 116, Issue 14, Pages 1555-1562
Year: 2007 -
Dynamic regulation of circulating microRNA during acute exhaustive exercise and sustained aerobic exercise training
Authors: AL Baggish, A Hale, RB Weiner, GD Lewis, D Systrom, F Wang, TJ Wang, …
Journal: The Journal of Physiology, Volume 589, Issue 16, Pages 3983-3994
Year: 2011 -
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing: what is its value?
Authors: M Guazzi, F Bandera, C Ozemek, D Systrom, R Arena
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Volume 70, Issue 13, Pages 1618-1636
Year: 2017 -
Metabolic signatures of exercise in human plasma
Authors: GD Lewis, L Farrell, MJ Wood, M Martinovic, Z Arany, GC Rowe, A Souza, …
Journal: Science Translational Medicine, Volume 2, Issue 33, 33ra37
Year: 2010 -
Exercise-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: JJ Tolle, AB Waxman, TL Van Horn, PP Pappagianopoulos, DM Systrom
Journal: Circulation, Volume 118, Issue 21, Pages 2183-2189
Year: 2008 -
Sildenafil improves exercise hemodynamics and oxygen uptake in patients with systolic heart failure
Authors: GD Lewis, J Lachmann, J Camuso, JJ Lepore, J Shin, ME Martinovic, …
Journal: Circulation, Volume 115, Issue 1, Pages 59-66
Year: 2007 -
Persistent exertional intolerance after COVID-19: insights from invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing
Authors: I Singh, P Joseph, PM Heerdt, M Cullinan, DD Lutchmansingh, M Gulati, …
Journal: Chest, Volume 161, Issue 1, Pages 54-63
Year: 2022 -
Fatigue, sleep, and autoimmune and related disorders
Authors: MR Zielinski, DM Systrom, NR Rose
Journal: Frontiers in Immunology, Volume 10, Article 1827
Year: 2019